Why Wings of Grace Counselling?

When deciding on a name for my practice, by personal decision, I made sure to spend some time in prayer, and I also wanted to ensure that I gave much thought to what message I wanted my future clients to receive when they saw the name. I also wanted to be intentional in communicating who I am as a therapist.

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Three words that I hope my clients feel when they work with me are, kindness, grace, and growth.

Kindness: When I say kindness, I am referring to the capability and capacity we each possess to be considerate and empathetic to, and with, ourselves as well as those around us. It encapsulates our ability and willingness to be compassionate, with ourselves and with others. This does not mean that we will always understand someone else, or always agree with them, at the same time, we are still able to extend loving care to the people we interact with. We do not have to have all the answers in order to extend the hand and heart of kindness to ourselves or to others.

Grace: When I say grace, I mean the ability to give space and room to oneself to truly be human. Understanding that we are all human beings, and we will not always be perfect, yet, still understanding that we are worthy of love and care just as we are right now. Understanding that your humanity is not an indictment, but rather, it is a gift. Recognizing that more often that not, we deserve to be gentle with ourselves and much less harsh than we may be prone to be far too often.

Growth: When I think of growth, I am speaking in very basic terms; our ability to advance in our lives, and to move from one place in life to another. Growth is a continuous, on-going process, it is not stagnant. Whether that progression be in baby steps or big leaps, it is forward movement, and I believe that should always be celebrated and honoured. In therapy, there is a lot of emotional work and growth that can take place, and sometimes that process can look very messy. I am here to tell you that your mess is okay, and there is always purpose in the midst of chaos.

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Kindness and grace are two hallmarks of Wings of Grace Counselling, whether that’s in the therapy room or outside of it. Extending kindness and grace doesn’t mean that you allow others to walk all over you; it means that you won’t be mean-spirited when you decide to intentionally set healthy boundaries for yourself and your heart. It also means that you recognize we all fall short at some point or another, and it makes sense to hold some room and space for error in our relationships. None of these attributes is always easy to lean into and put into practice, at the same time, I believe that they add so much life and love to the relationships we build with those around us when we choose to.

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Finally, the concept of wings. I thought of this as I was researching eagles, and the significance and purpose of an eagle’s wing. It is said that the wings of an eagle can vary in size, they are powerful, the feathers are light weighing less than 2 pounds, and the broad wings of an eagle are stronger than the wing of an airplane (Zoo Books Copyright, 1985). Furthermore, their broad wings can provide extra lift when an eagle is carrying prey within their wings up into the air.

When I liken this to us as individuals, I thought of the weight each one of us can carry, and do carry, as we journey through life. Our “wings” are powerful, and yet are fragile at the same time; tenderness and care are essential. Sometimes, our “prey” is very heavy, and other times, we are able to almost effortlessly soar on the heights. Regardless of where you may find yourself, it is my hope that you can be kind and gracious to yourself through it. No matter the weight, you are carrying it on the wings of grace. I believe that just as eagles have wings that help them navigate life how they may need to, you also possess the same capability. Just as an eagle’s wings have many feathers, and each of these feathers are held together by hundreds of hooks, your wings are held together by the community surrounding you- you do not have to do life by yourself! Leaning into the heaviness is not always easy, leaning in to taking intentional and purposeful care of your Mental Health is not always easy, but I can promise you that it is always courageous!